“It’s a morale boost when you start the season with a win,” said Meskill, who was a county finalist last season. Both he and Dammer qualified for February’s Junior Olympics in Kansas City, and will lead a Wildcats team that seems poised to improve on last year’s 6-6 record.

“We have a lot of talent. We just have to drive ourselves forward,” Meskill added.

Dammer, Chris Babinski (3-0 in sabre), Steve Ciravolo (2-0 in sabre), Meskill and Jordan Roiland won the first five bouts of the match, giving Whitman an early edge.

Whitman was led by its foil and epee squads, which both went 8-1. Alyssa Morisco went 2-0 in foil and Paige Tortorice went 2-0 in epee.

Madelyn Wagner and Mary Wisseman both went 2-1 in sabre for Sayville.

“They bring the heart and the want this year, and that makes you really excited,” coach Jacquelyn Addeo said. “They just keep pushing themselves a little bit more each night, so they’ll build off this.”

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